A very successful IOL Scottish/Alba Conference

From Carol Murdoch:

The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind! I led on delivering and running the Institute for Outdoor Learning Scottish/ Alba Conference, the first up here in many, many years.

I was supported by a small team of volunteers and some lovely friends and family. The day could not have run without the support of so many. Ely B. being one of them!

We set a reach target of having 40-50 folks there. We pretty much doubled that. So many people put their trust in us. Just like our workshop presenters and our key note speaker Patrick Boxall.

And that was scary, as I knew the day would not be perfect, that it would give us loads to learn and loads to reflect on.

But what I didn't expect was how high the energy would be. How many real and meaningful connections would be made. And how much people really wanted something to pull us all together.

You see, I wanted the Scotland to have an IOL conference as I'd travelled to many of their conferences south of the border and realised they really are magical and a home for everyone who works with the outdoors, from teachers to adventurers and everyone in between. Scotland deserved that. And by gum, it was embraced!

I started with accessibility and inclusion at the heart of the conference, as, personally, they are so important to me. I am a woman. I have neuro diversity. I have physical disabilities. I require hearing aids in both ears. I've been to many conferences that say they do that and simply don't. But we blooming tried hard to make sure we did.
 

I was awarded my Senior Practitioner in Outdoor Learning with Mark Moore presenting me with my certificate, making me one of the first Senior Fellows of the Institute for Outdoor Learning and a real reflection of my work at Love Outdoor Learning (and before). This is recognition of working more than 10 years at a senior level, of having achieved a range of qualifications in the outdoors, of strategic leadership, of making real change to the sector. It felt very special, very humbling, and very deserved (oh man that last one feels hard to type!).

I even hosted dinners the night before and night of. Ian was invaluable in doing so. We celebrated Natasha's birthday, and learned what it takes to become a National Geographic Explorer from Valeriia Kolodezhna and had so many more meaningful conversations around the dinner table.

I was so thankful that Joanna Barnett, the CEO of IOL came up for it alongside Elspeth Mason BSc PGCE LPIOL SFIOL and Dave Harvey and they all chipped in during the day.

Anyhow, I'll be honest, I'm sat in my pjs still and reflecting on it all and there is just too much to reflect on. I'll write something proper as things digest.

From Elspeth:

At the Scottish IOL conference yesterday at SRUC Oatridge (one of Scotland's Rural HE/FE College campuses) in West Lothian. I was there in my role as AAIAC chair and it was a great chance to talk face to face with a whole range of providers and get a chance to discuss changes in UK and National legislation and the opportunities and challenges that brings.

Scotland is leading the way in terms of getting government legislation and support for ensuring all children, regardless of income or background, get access to a residential outdoor learning week during their education.

I met many lovely outdoor learning practitioners, made and remade connections, soaked up the glory of trees around the campus while I was there and generally had an inspiring and very worth while day.

Carol, Ely and co - you ran an awesome conference and lovely to see you get your Senior Fellow certificate from the new IOL Trustee Mark Moore.